Selective device recognition apparatus in UPnP based home network and method thereof

ABSTRACT

In a selective device recognition apparatus in a UPnP based home network and a method thereof performing recognition of UPnP devices differentially according to UPnP CP user&#39;s authority, by providing a network transmission possible identifier to a request message in a UPnP CP, recognizing the network transmission possible identifier by a corresponded UPnP device and displaying it on a screen of the UPnP CP user, the user can recognize a pertinent home network device easily and can perform device security selectively through the selective device recognition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a home network, and inparticular to a device recognition apparatus and a method thereofcapable of performing selective recognition of a specific deviceaccording to authority grant of a user in a UPnP based home network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Recently, with the development of information technologies, notonly a PC (personal computer) but also various IT products such as adigital television receiver, a PDA and a game board, etc. can beconnected to a network as home network devices, and accordingly a homenetwork comes into the spotlight.

[0005] In the home network, by connecting home network devices in ahouse with a topology, the home network devices own data commonly, and auser can perform broadband communication through them. In more detail, ahome network in a narrow sense means wire and wireless network equipmentconnecting home network devices in a house, and a home network in abroad sense includes a middle wear or a service, etc. forintegrating/controlling/operating home network devices mutually besideswire and wireless network equipment.

[0006] In particular, in order to integrate/control/operate home networkdevices mutually, a UPnP (universal plug and play) comes to the frontpresently. The UPnP is a common protocol for making several home networkdevices having different standard specifications interface mutually.

[0007]FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a general UPnP based homenetwork system.

[0008] As depicted in FIG. 1, in the home network system, UPnP devices30, 50 (herein, a UPnP refrigerator and a UPnP computer) and a UPnP CP(control point) device 40 (herein, a UPnP DTV) are connected with eachother through one topology, in some cases, the UPnP devices areconnected to an ISP (Internet service provider) 10 through a homegateway 20 and receive various Internet services.

[0009] Operation processes of the UPnP based home network system will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating operation between a UPnPCP (control point) device and a UPnP device in the general home networksystem.

[0011] First, a DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) serverallocates an IP (Internet protocol) address to a UPnP device 70 and aUPnP control point device (hereinafter, it is referred to a UPnP CP) 60.Afterward, the UPnP device 70 multicasts a URL indicating a position ofUUID (unique universe identifier) data as a device recognitionidentifier and a position of device information storing data to a homecontrol device. Accordingly, the UPnP CP 60 recognizes the UPnP device70 through the UUID and requests data indicated by the URL.

[0012] In the meantime, the UPnP device 70 transmits description filehaving various device detailed information, service information andstate varied data indicating device state information to the UPnP CP 60according to the request message. Accordingly, the UPnP CP 60 cancontrol/operate home network devices connected thereto through thedescription file, herein, the description file is provided as a xml(extensible markup language) spec.

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating a request message forUPnP device recognition in a general UPnP CP.

[0014] As depicted in FIG. 3, the request message (herein, M-searchmessage) is constructed so as to make a UPnP CP user search or recognizeeach UPnP device through a device characteristic identifier (herein, STitem).

[0015]FIG. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating an advertisement messagefor notifying a general UPnP device.

[0016] As depicted in FIG. 4, the device's advertisement message(herein, a notify message) is transmitted to a UPnP CP user through adevice characteristic identifier (herein, a NT item), and accordinglyall UPnP CPs in the same local network can recognize and control thepertinent UPnP device.

[0017] In more detail, in the general UPnP based home network system,all UPnP devices connected to the local network are shown in the UPnPCP. Accordingly, regardless of user's minds, the UPnP CP user can graspall information such as existence and state of a specific device in thenetwork. In addition, in order to control the devices, in the most ofcases, device recognition is permitted. However, in case of control, aperson having administrator's authority can perform control by inputtinga password.

[0018] In device control, when too many devices are displayed on ascreen of the UPnP CP, it may cause user's confusion. In addition,because a UPnP device requiring security or a device not havingrecognition necessity due to a certain reasons may be displayed on thescreen of the UPnP CP, problems related to error operation and securitymay occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a selectivedevice recognition apparatus in a UPnP based home network and a methodthereof capable of varying existence of a specific UPnP devicedifferentially according to a UPnP CP user's authority by providing anetwork transmission possible indicator to a request message in a UPnPCP, recognizing the network transmission possible indicator with acorresponded UPnP device and displaying it on a UPnP CP user screen.

[0020] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a selectivedevice recognition apparatus in a UPnP based home network in accordancewith the present invention includes a network stream processing unit forparsing a characteristic data stream of a device and reading a pertinentnetwork transmission possible identifier of the device characteristicidentifier; and a network transmission judging unit for comparing theread network transmission possible identifier with a preset networktransmission possible identifier and judging network transmission ofcharacteristic data according to the comparison result.

[0021] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a selectivedevice recognition method in a UPnP based home network in accordancewith the present invention includes receiving a device characteristicdata stream and parsing it; reading a device characteristic identifierand a network transmission possible identifier; and comparing the readnetwork transmission possible identifier with a pre-recorded networktransmission possible identifier and judging whether networktransmission of characteristic data corresponded to the read devicecharacteristic identifier is performed according to the comparisonresult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

[0023] In the drawings:

[0024]FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a general UPnP based homenetwork;

[0025]FIG. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating operation between a UPnPCP (control point) device and a UPnP device performed in a general homenetwork system;

[0026]FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating a request message forUPnP device recognition in a general UPnP control point;

[0027]FIG. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating an advertisement messagefor notifying a general UPnP device;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for judgingnetwork transmission of device characteristic data in a home network inaccordance with the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a network stream processingunit in accordance with the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a network transmissionjudging unit in accordance with the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for judging networktransmission of device characteristic data in a home network;

[0032]FIG. 9 is an exemplary view illustrating a request message forUPnP device recognition in a UPnP CP of a home network system inaccordance with the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating a transmission judgementtable in accordance with the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating operation about a requestmessage in a device of the home network system in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0035]FIG. 12 is an exemplary view illustrating an advertisement messagefor notifying a device of the home network system in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0036]FIG. 13 is an exemplary view illustrating a transmission judgementtable in accordance with the present invention; and

[0037]FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating operation about anadvertisement message in a UPnP CP of the home network system inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0039]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for judgingnetwork transmission of device characteristic data in a home network inaccordance with the present invention.

[0040] As depicted in FIG. 5, the apparatus includes a network interface300 for receiving a device characteristic data stream transmitted from ahome network device 200 through wire/wireless communication, etc.; anetwork stream processing unit 310 for reading a device characteristicidentifier and a pertinent network transmission possible identifierthereof by parsing the device characteristic data stream received in thenetwork interface 300; a transmission judgement table 320 in which apertinent network transmission possible identifier is matched-recordedby device characteristic identifiers read in the network streamprocessing unit 310; and a network transmission judging unit 330 forcomparing a transmission possible identifier read in the network streamprocessing unit 310 with a network transmission possible identifierrecorded in the transmission judgement table 320 and judging networktransmission of characteristic data corresponded to the devicecharacteristic identifier according to the comparison is result.

[0041] Operations of the apparatus will be described.

[0042] First, the network interface 300 receives device characteristicdata stream transmitted from plural home network devices (UPnP device orUPnP CP) 200 through wire/wireless communication, etc. Herein, thedevice characteristic data stream is an advertisement data stream of theUPnP device or response data stream transmitted by a request of the UPnPCP. In more detail, in the present invention, the device characteristicidentifier and the network transmission possible identifier are receivedfrom other home network devices connected to a cable with that kind ofdata stream field.

[0043] Afterward, the network stream processing unit 310 reads thedevice characteristic identifier and the network transmission possibleidentifier of the device characteristic data stream by parsing thedevice characteristic data stream received from the network interface300.

[0044] Lastly, the device characteristic identifier and the pertinentnetwork transmission possible identifier read from the network streamprocessing unit 310 are sequentially compared with a devicecharacteristic identifier and a network transmission possible identifierpreset in the transmission judgement table 320, and it is judged whetherthe pertinent characteristic data are transmitted according to thecomparison result.

[0045]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a network stream processingunit in accordance with the present invention.

[0046] As depicted in FIG. 6, the network stream processing unit 310includes a preprocessor 311 for parsing a device characteristic datastream received from the network interface 300; a buffer for temporallystoring the device characteristic data parsed in the preprocessor 311; abuffer manager 313 for temporally storing the device characteristic dataparsed in the preprocessor 311 in the buffer 312 and outputting aregistry signal corresponded thereto; and an identifier reader 314 forsearching the device characteristic data temporally stored in the buffer312 according to the registry signal outputted from the buffer manager313 and reading a device characteristic identifier and a networktransmission identifier.

[0047] The network stream processing unit 310 will be described indetail.

[0048] First, the preprocessor 311 performs parsing of the devicecharacteristic data stream received from the network interface 300 bydevice characteristic data units divided by a token (/). For example, ina local IP based UPnP, it is preferable to perform parsing by methodssuch as a /0device characteristic identifier (device type)/ and a/0device type identifier (friendly name)/.

[0049] The buffer manager 313 temporally stores the devicecharacteristic data parsed in the preprocessor 311 in the buffer 312 andoutputs a registry signal corresponded thereto to the identifier reader314. The identifier reader 314 searches the device characteristic datastored in the buffer 312 according to the registry signal outputted fromthe buffer manager 313, reads a device characteristic identifier and anetwork transmission possible identifier and outputs them to the networktransmission judging unit 330.

[0050]FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a network transmissionjudging unit in accordance with the present invention.

[0051] As depicted in FIG. 7, the network transmission judging unit 330includes a device characteristic identifier detecting module 331 fordetecting a device characteristic identifier same with the devicecharacteristic identifier read from the network stream processing unit310 in the transmission judgement table 320; a network transmissionpossible identifier comparing module 332 for detecting a networktransmission possible identifier corresponded to the devicecharacteristic identifier detected in the device characteristicidentifier detecting module 331 in the transmission judgement table 320and comparing it with the network transmission possible identifier readfrom the network stream processing unit 310; and a transmission judgingmodule 333 for judging whether it is possible to perform networktransmission of pertinent characteristic data indicated by the devicecharacteristic identifier according to the comparison result of thenetwork transmission possible identifier comparing module 332.

[0052] Accordingly, when the network transmission possible identifierread from the network stream processing unit 310 is not same with thenetwork transmission possible identifier detected in the transmissionjudgement table 320, a disable signal for not performing transmission ofdevice characteristic data indicated by the device characteristicidentifier is outputted to a microcomputer (not shown).

[0053] In the meantime, when the network transmission possibleidentifier read from the network stream processing unit 310 is same withthe network transmission possible identifier detected in thetransmission judgement table 320, an enable signal for performingtransmission of device characteristic data indicated by the devicecharacteristic identifier is outputted to the microcomputer (not shown).Afterward, under the control of the microcomputer, pertinentcharacteristic data of the device characteristic identifier is read fromdatabase (not shown) and is transmitted to a home network devicerequiring characteristic data of the device characteristic identifier.

[0054]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for judging networktransmission of device characteristic data in a home network.

[0055] As depicted in FIG. 8, the method includes monitoring-receiving adevice characteristic data stream transmitted from a home network devicethrough wire/wireless communication, etc. as shown at step S600; parsingthe received device characteristic data stream as shown at step S610;reading a device characteristic identifier and a pertinent networktransmission possible identifier thereof from the parsed devicecharacteristic data as shown at step S620; comparing the pertinentnetwork transmission possible identifier of the read devicecharacteristic identifier with a network transmission possibleidentifier recorded in a transmission judgement table as shown at stepS630; and judging whether network transmission of characteristic datacorresponded to the read device characteristic identifier is performedaccording to the comparison result as shown at step S640.

[0056]FIG. 9 is an exemplary view illustrating a request message forUPnP device recognition in a UPnP CP of a home network system inaccordance with the present invention.

[0057] As depicted in FIG. 9, the request message (herein, M-searchmessage) includes a specific network transmission possibleidentification information (herein, PW) by each device characteristicidentifier. Accordingly, recognition of a UPnP device corresponded toeach network transmission possible identifier is judged in the UPnP CP.

[0058]FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating a transmission judgementtable in accordance with the present invention.

[0059] As depicted in FIG. 10, in the transmission judgment table,inherent network transmission possible identifier information by eachdevice characteristic identifier is preset. For example, a networktransmission possible identifier corresponded to a device characteristicidentifier UUID is set as SSSSSSS, when the present SSSSSSS is same witha received network transmission identifier, a pertinent device transmitspertinent characteristic data to a home network device indicated by theUUID.

[0060]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating operation about a requestmessage in a device of the home network system in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0061] First, the UPnP device waits for a request message (herein,M-search message) from the UPnP CP as shown at step S700.

[0062] Afterward, when the request message is received from the UPnP CP,information about the network transmission possible identifier (herein,PW) is checked as shown at step S710. Herein, when there is noinformation about the network transmission possible identifier, aresponse message is unconditionally transmitted to the UPnP CP as shownat step S770.

[0063] In the meantime, when information about the network transmissionpossible identifier is detected, each network transmission possibleidentifier is checked as shown at steps S720˜S760, when it iscorresponded to each network transmission possible identifier, apertinent response message is transmitted to the UPnP CP as shown atstep S780.

[0064] Accordingly, a key value is provided to the UPnP CP according touser authority, and the UPnP CP can freely recognize and control arequest device. In the meantime, a user not having a key value cancontrol only a device allocated by capacity or authority thereof, andaccordingly safe use of a device can be secured.

[0065]FIG. 12 is an exemplary view illustrating an advertisement messagefor notifying a device of the home network system in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0066]FIG. 13 is an exemplary view illustrating a transmission judgementtable in accordance with the present invention.

[0067] As depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the device of the home networksystem, an advertisement message is outputted by adding specific networktransmission possible identification information (herein, PW) to eachdevice characteristic identifier. Accordingly, in case of a message nothaving network transmission possible identifier information, the UPnP CPrecognizes a device by a general recognition process, in case of amessage having network transmission possible identifier information,only when it is corresponded with a key of the UPnP CP, the UPnP CPreceives a pertinent device and a service.

[0068]FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating operation about anadvertisement message in a UPnP CP of the home network system inaccordance with the present invention.

[0069] First, the UPnP CP waits for an advertisement message from adevice as shown at step S800.

[0070] Afterward, when the advertisement message is received from thedevice, information about a network transmission possible identifier(herein, PW) is checked as shown at step S810. Herein, when there is nonetwork transmission possible identifier, a pertinent device isunconditionally recognized, and a next step is performed as shown atstep S870.

[0071] In the meantime, when network transmission possible identifierinformation is detected, each network transmission possible identifieris checked as shown at step S810˜S860, when it is corresponded with eachnetwork transmission possible identifier of the UPnP CP, a pertinentdevice and a service are recognized, and a next step is performed. Whennetwork transmission possible identifier information is not detected, adevice is not recognized as shown at step S880.

[0072] In conclusion, a key value is provided to a device according touser's authority, and accordingly the UPnP CP performs recognition ofdevices differentially by providing each key value to devices andservice items. In addition, a UPnP CP user knowing a key value of apertinent device and a service can recognize and control a pertinentdevice easily.

[0073] As described-above, in the present invention, by transmitting anetwork transmission possible identifier set by each devicecharacteristic identifier with a device characteristic data streamtransmitted from a home network device and transmitting pertinentcharacteristic data of the device characteristic identifier by only ahome network device recognizing the network transmission possibleidentifier, a user can recognize the home network device easily. Inaddition, security about the pertinent device can be selectivelyperformed.

[0074] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of theclaims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A selective device recognition apparatus in aUPnP based home network, comprising: a network stream processing unitfor parsing a characteristic data stream of a device and reading apertinent network transmission possible identifier of the devicecharacteristic identifier; and a network transmission judging unit forcomparing the read network transmission possible identifier with apreset network transmission possible identifier and judging networktransmission of characteristic data according to the comparison result.2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a network interface forreceiving device characteristic data transmitted from a home networkdevice; and a transmission judgement table in which a pertinent networktransmission possible identifier is matched-recorded by a devicecharacteristic identifier read from the network stream processing unit.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network stream processing unitincludes: a preprocessor for parsing the device characteristic datastream; a buffer manager for temporally storing the devicecharacteristic data parsed in the preprocessor in the buffer andoutputting a registry signal corresponded thereto; and an identifierreader for searching the device characteristic data temporally stored inthe buffer according to the registry signal outputted from the buffermanager and reading a device characteristic identifier and a networktransmission identifier.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein thepreprocessor performs parsing of the device characteristic data streamby device characteristic data units divided by a token(/).
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the network transmission judging unitincludes: a device characteristic identifier detecting module fordetecting a device characteristic identifier same with the devicecharacteristic identifier read from the network stream processing unit;a network transmission possible identifier comparing module forcomparing the network transmission possible identifier detected by thedevice characteristic identifier detecting module with the networktransmission possible identifier read from the network stream processingunit; and a transmission judging module for judging whether it ispossible to perform network transmission of pertinent characteristicdata indicated by the device characteristic identifier according to thecomparison result.
 6. A selective device recognition method in a UPnPbased home network, comprising: receiving a device characteristic datastream and parsing it; reading a device characteristic identifier and anetwork transmission possible identifier; and comparing the read networktransmission possible identifier with a prerecorded network transmissionpossible identifier and judging whether network transmission ofcharacteristic data corresponded to the read device characteristicidentifier is performed according to the comparison result.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein parsing of the received device characteristicdata stream is performed by device characteristic data units divided bya token(/) or parsing of the received device characteristic data streamis performed by inserting a null string after the token in the parsingstep.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the device characteristic datastream is a request message for UPnP device recognition in a UPnP CP(control point) device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the requestmessage includes inherent network transmission possible identifierinformation per each device characteristic identifier.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the UPnP device includes the network transmissionpossible identifier, and recognition is judged by the UPnP CP device.11. The method of claim 8, wherein the UPnP CP device and the UPnPdevice exist in the same local network.
 12. The method of claim 6,wherein the device characteristic data stream is an advertisementmessage for notifying a UPnP device itself.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the advertisement message includes inherent network transmissionpossible identifier information per each device characteristicidentifier.
 14. The method of claim 6, wherein a pertinent networktransmission possible identifier of the read device characteristicidentifier is compared with a network transmission possible identifierrecorded in a transmission judgement table in the network transmissionjudging step.
 15. The method of claim 6, wherein the networktransmission judging step includes the sub-steps of: outputting arequest message to a UPnP CP (control point) device in case of a messagenot having network transmission possible identifier information; andsequentially comparing each network transmission possible identifierwith each network transmission possible identifier of a UPnP device incase of a message having network transmission possible identifierinformation and transmitting a pertinent response message to the UPnP CPdevice according to the comparison result (coincidence).
 16. The methodof claim 6, wherein the network transmission judging step includes thesub-steps of: recognizing a UPnP device by a general recognition processin case of a message not having network transmission possible identifierinformation; and sequentially comparing network transmission possibleidentifier information with a network transmission possible identifierof a UPnP CP device when network transmission possible identifierinformation is detected and recognizing a pertinent device and a serviceaccording to the comparison result (coincidence).